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The Jets host the Bills in the season's first Monday night matchup. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

'Monday Night Football' looks like it is back as an elite time slot

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 5/11/23

"Monday Night Football" always used to be one of the NFL's top schedule time slots. The two teams playing had the entire day to themselves, it was usually reserved for a massive matchup of elite teams, and the in-stadium experience was more like a playoff game under the lights than a regular season game.

In recent years, it seemed to lose some of its luster as "Sunday Night Football" seemed to emerge as the NFL's preferred time slot for big games.

It seems that is changing this season.

Not only does the NFL have the ability to flex games to Monday night for better matchups, some of the scheduled matchups look like potentially massive games that the NFL will want to highlight.

Here is the entire Monday night schedule as it stands now before flex scheduling begins in Week 12.

ESPN’s 2023 Monday Night Football Schedule — with an asterisk; flex scheduling is eligible to begin in Week 12, when the Vikings host the Bears. pic.twitter.com/1vxNOMNbHH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2023

The huge matchups start in Week 1 with the Buffalo Bills visiting the New York Jets. The Bills are one of the best teams in the league, have a superstar in Josh Allen and will be visiting the Jets for Aaron Rodgers' debut with the team. That will be one of the most hyped matchups of the season and one of the best Week 1 matchups.

"Monday Night Football" also has rematches of the past two Super Bowls.

On Sept. 25 (Week 3), the Rams will visit the Cincinnati Bengals for a rematch of Super Bowl LVI, and then on Nov. 20 (Week 11), the Philadelphia Eagles will visit the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII.

Other notable matchups include rivalry games like the Steelers and Browns, and great quarterback matchups like Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert, Herbert and Rodgers, and Allen and Russell Wilson.

There are also a lot of promising matchups featuring teams on the rise, with the Detroit Lions getting multiple games, including a potentially great Week 17 game against Dallas.

Why the sudden change in course on the scheduling? A lot of it might have to do with the fact ESPN made a huge financial investment in "Monday Night Football" with last year's hiring of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to announce the games. Whatever you think of them as a duo, there is no denying they bring a "big game" feel to every game and are one of the top announcing duos in sports.

"Monday Night Football" slacked in recent years. It should again be appointment viewing this season.

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